Automatic car-step



UNTERE STATES PATENT FFICE JOHN MACCOLLOM, OF BALLSTON, NEW YORK.

AUTO MATIC CAR-STEP.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 487,867, dated. Decem'ber 13, 1892.

Applioation file J'u1y 23, 1892.

T0 all wh0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN l\/IACCOLLOM, a citizen 0f the United Staates, residing at Ballston Spa, in the county of Saratoga and State 0f New York, have invented certain riew and nseful Improvements in Automatic Gar-Steps; and I do dee1are the following to be a ful1, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art t0 which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had t0 the accompanying drawings, and t0 the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part 0f this specification.

This invention re1ates to an improvement in car-steps; and. it eonsists in a step which may be lowered and which is elevated automatically upon the startingof thetrain, as Will be explained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a portion of one end of a car provided with the invent-ion, looking ab the rear of the steps. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, looking at the side of the step. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the hanger which carries the lower step. Fig. 4 is a modification,being a view sixnilar to Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective 0f the modifieation.

Referring to the drawings, the 1etter A indicates the car-platform, having ab its sides the steps, one set of whieh is shown at B. This set consists 0f the usual rigid steps b and a bottom movable step C.

Secured to the back b of the steps bis a guide-frame D, having the inclined guides d d, the space between these guides being dovetailed, as shown. Fitting between these guides d d is the sliding fraxne E, having the sides e e, whieh fit in and are adapted to the inclined guides d d. A1: the bottom this frame E has the outwardly-extended. supports e e, to which is seenred the step C. 'lhis step, as shown, is wider than the lowest one of the steps b and extends beyond the same, as shown a1: c.

T0 an eye e 0f theframe Eis secured one and f of a spring F, the ocher end f 0f which is secured 130 the car structure. As a part of the frame E there is a barre1 G, inside of which is plaeed a spring g. Entering this barre1 and resting against t-his spring g is a rod H, whieh passes through guides h in the frame Serial N0. 440,994. (N0 model.)

E and has an end h extending out beyond one side of said frarne. In the guide d, ab ohis side of the frame E, is made a notoh d. Pivoted to the frame E, be1ow the rod I-I, is a finger K, whieh is also seeured ab k 110 said rod H and has its npper free end k extending pwardly and inwardly toward the draw-bar L. Secured t0 this draw-bar L is a striker Z, whieh extends ont aeross and behind the upper end k of the finger K.

T0 use this device, the step O is lowered either by pulling on it or by stepping npon it. This pnlls down the frame E until the 1'0(1 H is on a 1ine wih the notch d, when the spring g presses the end hv into such notch and locks the frame E down. At the same time the spring F is extended. As soon as the train starts the draw-bar L is elongated, bringing the striker Z in contact with the finger R, which bears the rod H back against the spring g. This withdraws the end h fromthe noteh d, and the spring F, retracting, draws the frame E andstep O up.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown a; modifieation. Here the construction of the steps and the 1JWO frames, the spring, and the lock are the same. Instead of the striker another anlocking mechanism is used. Extending backwardly from the sliding frame E is a flexible arm N, carrying a r011er O, whieh is in the plane of the tread 0f the car-wheel P. From a wrist-pin 0 011 this roller0 a .rod R extends toward the frame E and. has a slob r, in whieh is heldaheaded pin r 0n the finger K. When the frame E and step O are up, the roller 0 is 01111 of contaet with the tread of the wheel P; but When the step C and frame E are lowered the roller 0 is bronght in contact with the tread of the whee1 P. Now as soon as the ear starrs, whether forw ard or backward, the couta0t of the wheel P with roller, causing the latter to rotate, mov9s the finger K and unloeks the rod H.

Having thus described my invention, what L claim is v l. The eombination of a movable car-step, a 1oek for ho1ding such step in its lowest position, and an unlocking meehanism which re- IOO leases the lock automatieally upon the starting of the car, as sei; f0rth. 2. The Combination of a movable ear-step,

a spring for lifting it up, a 1oek for holding such step in its lowest osition, and an unlocking l such step in its lowest position, and an unmechanism which releases the 10ck automatiloeking meehanism whieh eommunicates With eally upon the starting 0f the ear, as sei: forth. a part 0f the car structure other than the rnox'rr 5 3. The combination of a movable car-step, able step and releases the 1ock automatically 5 a1 ock for holding such step in ios lowest posiupon the starting of the cm, as set forth.

tioh, and an unlocking mechanism whieh com- In testirnony whereof I affix mysignature in municates with a part 0f the car structure presence 0f two witnesses. other tha.n the movable step and releases the lock antoxnatieally upon the starting of the JOHN MAOCOLLOM' car, as sei: forth. Witnesses:

4. The combina/ion of a movable car-step, CLARA L. HOYT,

a spring for 1ifting it up, a 1001: for holding HORAOE E. MCKNIGHT. 

